Spyke
sh.itjust.works

Looks like this decision is decided already but I figured I'd put in my input. Given this instance has an open registration policy, nothing is stopping someone from another instance to create an alternative just for voting on this instance. This individual might align and contribute positively to the fediverse and have really great ideas and contributions to discussions here. However because they use their alt account here on sh.itjust.works only for voting, their vote might get dismissed due to poor account reputation (another issue that I believe was already brought up in another post). The fediverse is meant to be a decentralized community and by forcing people to need to join this community to vote promotes centralization which I believe is the opposite of what the fediverse is trying to accomplish. I guess for now I'll hold off on casting my vote until the community determines what criteria should be considered when counting a vote.

19

On the other hand, quite some people still need to grasp all intricacies of federation: we already have quite a few users over from kbin demanding defederation from a third party instance without realising it would not affect them at all.

Of course, it will be easy to sign up just for voting, but at least if you choose to do so, you know what you are doing...

5
Derproidreply
sh.itjust.works

I think another big thing to consider is that we need to have a discussion thread first before people can cast their vote. A lot of people in this thread have already voted before hearing any arguments other than the OP, which heavily skews the vote in favor of OP. If we have a discussion thread for a few days first and get all the discussion out of the way we can then have a vote after and people can go back and read all the arguments made before voting.

3

I like this idea a lot. I would have voted aye before reading TheDude's thoughtful (as always) commentary.

1

I get what you mean, but if this is the forum for discussing how this instance is run, then I think at the very least, the opinions and views of those with accounts based on this instance should weigh more than those from elsewhere. They have their own instances to take an active role in, and if they find the direct-democracy aspect of sh.itjust.works, they should have their "main" account here. There's been a long-requested feature to allow account instance migration a la Mastodon style, making such a weighting or restriction more equitable.

3

It's an interesting question.

I think that, in general, it almost shouldn't matter which instance you're a part of. Ideally that choice doesn't affect how you view the fediverse. One of the largest reasons I'm against de-federation for anything but the worst offenders is that I think that we need to move away from centrally controlled social media to a more decentralized means of interacting.

I think if I had to design it myself I would ensure that there not any governance decisions that should be made on the instance level. Communities should have rules, instances should have rules about what communities they want to host and the communities should work with the people running the instance to ensure that their software needs are taken care of (maybe they need video hosting, or some software integration into a game or whatever).

Decisions about how to govern communities should be made at the community level and the community leaders should work with the instance administrators to ensure that everything runs correctly. The communities should determine their own means of setting rules. The instance owner is basically just running the hardware, keeping the software updated and ensuring the community moderators have the tools they need.

2
StarNytereply
sh.itjust.works

If they're willing to put in the bare minimum of making an account and voting then I think that's okay.

2

I could see this being a vulnerability though, there are people out there who would want to game democratic systems - particularly for hot-button issues, from real-life politics to defederating Meta.

1

requiring an account on this instance is not going to stop everyone, and it doesn't need to. i think this is on par with adding captcha to the account creation. people who are determined to disrupt will still get through, but this minimizes the possibility of low effort trolling.

i agree that voting shouldn't be tied to account reputation or age. if someone's going to create an account just to vote here then so be it.

2

Was in the middle of posting the exact same thing when your post came in. Yes, it's open registration. So even if you make it so only local users can vote... anyone anywhere can instantly make an account here and vote. So there is no reason to enforce this. The reputation thing would just mean that people would have to "farm karma" before their alt can vote and then they just leave the alt sitting for votes. Im not sure you should be doing anything that promotes karma farming...

So if it's easier to set up the vote with it local only. Do that. If it's easier to set up by allowing voting for anywhere. Do that. Just do what takes the least effort because at the end of the day there is no way to prevent outside voting.

1

Nay because anyone can make an account here who has an account elsewhere. In practice it makes absolutely no difference unless we somehow restrict account creation here which I also say Nay to doing so.

16

I think it matters. It's not about practical difficulty - it's a mental barrier

If you make an account here, you're a member. Doesn't matter if you have 4 other accounts on other servers, the minute you sign up this becomes one of your servers

It's a very low bar, and a very open community. But I think you should have to actually join it, so that you feel invested in it

7

Nay

People from different instances visit communities on this one and must follow its rules, so they should have a say on them.
Moreover, having to create a separate account just to be able to vote here is impractical, but I doubt it will stop those who are in bad faith.

12

Aye--in at least some cases. (I am responding to the matter "Only those with an account on this instance should vote on the Agora." I am seeing a bug where if I scroll down then back up, I see the title and body of a different post, so if this goes to the wrong place, mods please move it to the correct place)

I can foresee some issues that might be open to vote by everyone on Lemmy, and those that should be open only to members of this instance. A vote to allow or ban certain types of content (say, porn or gore) should be restricted to the membership of the instance, with owner/admin having authority for absolute bans on grounds of "hosting that content is illegal where this instance is hosted" or similar grounds. Perhaps a vote to remove a moderator might be open to all users on the grounds that members of other instances may be active contributors and have a genuine stake.

So I vote Aye to restrict instance policy votes to members of this instance at least some of the time. I would also vote that anyone from anywhere can share discussion and opinion on any topic even if they may not cast a vote.

9
sh.itjust.works

Nay. I feel this suggestion is based in the old centralized platform mentality. That isn't to say it is wrong, but it seems based in a premise that does not apply to a federated platform. If you start thinking about how a federated platform actually works, I could join this community...and others on this instance...from an account on another server. Why would we treat someone as second class citizens for using the Fediverse in the way it was intended?

For those thinking "they can just make an account here if they want to vote", you are right. They could. But that also goes back to centralist mentality. We want to be able to interact with people and communities regardless of which instance houses the data object that is my account. From that perspective, I feel voting should be more inclusive than just those who have a user object stored on this instance.

My question back to you would be, what problem are you trying to solve by this limitation? I'm sure there are any number of hurdles we will need to address with open voting, but we have to identify those problems first.

7
tcelyreply
sh.itjust.works

I don't want people who haven't agreed to follow the same set of rules deciding what the rules are that I must follow.

It's like how much of the world decided it didn't enjoy colonial rule so much.

2
ruckblackreply
sh.itjust.works

Where are people getting the idea that this community is for discussing administration of this instance?

1

Ah okay, I hadn't seen this. The community description still really needs to be changed. It's not clear at all that this community is meant for sh.itjust.works instance matters. It's just some fluffy language about free thought and discussion.

1

Nay (Even though I'm on sh.itjust.works)

There is no point to have a Federated community not allowing federated users

Lemmy is not made to create an account on every instances either, don't create a myriad of accounts on every instances, this defies the point why Federation principle was made, to dispatch the content and the load

6

Nay.

Servers are an implementation detail that shouldn't matter to users in the first place.

5
sh.itjust.works

Nay, I thought half the point was that "the instance you join doesn't matter much." I'd generally like more cohesion, not walled communities that you need 5 different accounts for.

Edit: I want to add to this. Nowhere in the community description here does it say it's meant for sh.itjust.works community discussion/voting. I think there's value in a community closed to sh.itjust.works that ONLY discusses sh.itjust.works relevant topics/polls. But this isn't the community for it.

5
sh.itjust.works

I'm still an Aye.

I already have 4 accounts on different instances, which is useful while Beehaw does their defederation thing. Part of this decentralized federation is that each instance gets to make it's own rules on how it operates. Why should members of one instance get to make all the rules for another one?

If someone wants to make an account and participate in the growth of this particular instance then they're already vested in this community.

5
Trekman10reply
sh.itjust.works

This is exactly how I feel. Maybe I need to re-read theDude's OP about the direction of the instance but I thought this was a place to discuss the Administration of this instance, so why would people from other instances get the same say and input? You don't vote for other country's elections...

3
ruckblackreply
sh.itjust.works

If you read the community description, nowhere does it say this is a place to discuss admin of this instance. That's my issue. If we want a place for that, I totally agree there's value in that. But either the description needs to be completely changed or it needs to be somewhere else.

1

A simple line added to the top of the description that this is meant to be "the agora (of sh.itjust.works)" would fix that. The description made sense to me when I read it and implied that already but that's probably because I came here immediately after reading the original post announcing this place and it's purpose.

1

Aye, it is better to start with being more restrictive; especially with an influx of new accounts. If in practice it is not achieving the desired goal of hindering bad actors we can try something else. that being said the only way to see the actual benefit is to try. Perhaps try it for a month with a vote at the end to make the rule permanent?

5

Aye

I know I'm too late to really weigh in on this, but this community is still vastly smaller than others and could get overwhelmed by votes that reflect what's best for lemmy.world and not sh.itjust.works. (I know it's an over-used example, but I'm okay with other instances restricting CCP criticism as long as this one allows it)

My understanding of the federated vs centralized argument is that we actually want different servers to be run independently and then bring different things to Lemmy as a whole. If we had the same rules across all of the instances, then we might as well be one big centralized instance again

4

Nay

But honestly I'm kinda divided, I think people who are part of other instances but post and interact with the communities here should have a say, but I'm afraid of other communities brigading and flooding votes to get an outcome here they want. In general I think people from other instances should be able to vote but there's a lot of nuance here

3

First vote, first big mistake.
This vote should be taken as invalid because arguments must be heared before an informed decision can be made. Valid arguments have been brought in after people had already voted.
[removed wrong user mention]

Edit: and there exist methods of not only doing a polarising yes/no vote but more nuanced ones when there is more than just one option. Systemic consensing is one that i know of.

Edit 2: we should first make sure that we agree on the modus operandi, anyway. For example, also the open "yes/no" reply vote might not be acceptable to everyone (there would have been up/down-voting available,why not use that?)

2
StarNytereply
sh.itjust.works

This vote should be taken as invalid because arguments must be heared before an informed decision can be made.

Why? No rules on it, you should make that a discussion/vote topic though.

@[email protected] to your consideration.

I try not to interact using my other accounts (not everyone can see burggit) so if you do ping me, just use the one related to the thing, please and thank you.

Edit: and there exist methods of not only doing a polarising yes/no vote but more nuanced ones when there is more than just one option. Systemic consensing is one that i know of.

Edit 2: we should first make sure that we agree on the modus operandi, anyway. For example, also the open “yes/no” reply vote might not be acceptable to everyone (there would have been up/down-voting available,why not use that?)

You can start your own voting ways on that kinda stuff, I just did this because it's likely what the ancient greeks at Agora would've done. Just shout your answer for all to hear. https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voice_vote#Ancient_Greece

1
sh.itjust.works

Why? No rules on it, you should make that a discussion/vote topic though.

Common sense. No informed decision can be made if not all information has been brought forward.

if you do ping me, just use the one related to the thing, please and thank you.

My bad, i just tapped the first user the system suggested. Sorry for that, and good that it was still your account :-)

There have been more nuanced arguments made in this thread, this is why i had the idea.
I don't think that the ancient greeks didn't discuss their stuff before voting.

0
StarNytereply
sh.itjust.works

Hey like I said, make a discussion/vote on it, hell I'll probably say Aye/whatever your system is to it. But for now since there just are no rules to this, this is just what we have to deal with.

1

I didn't mean to say that you acted in some ill faith. Just, not so fast! I see it as my responsibility to voice this, as the idea came to me, and because i haven't seen anyone else doing it.

Edit: Someone is already up to it, discussing the vote mechanics ... i'd suggest to repeat all ongoing votes after these have been established.
... And now that i saw there were numerous votes popping up, i'll apologise for seemingly randomly picking one of them. It was just the first vote link i saw in the info post b the admin. Could have complained anywhere, should have seen the whole forum first.

0

Aye, but people outside the instance should be encouraged to participate in discussions.

Still staying with that opinion, despite the current discussion started by The Dude.

On third thought, reading some of the comments here, maybe a universal answer is wrong here. We should distinguish between instance-only questions (signing up, defederation,...) and community relevant ones (re communities,...?) I keep the vote in case we don't distinguish.

2
sh.itjust.works

Aye, but with the caveat that people outside the instance should be allowed/encouraged to make comments if they feel it has value.

2
Kecessareply
sh.itjust.works

The problem I've got with that (at the moment and hopefully that will be fixed) is that those of us on Jerboa can't see where users come from. Heck even on the website it can be easy to miss...

1

Aye

Edit to acknowledge that I have read The Dude's comment, but given that it is open registration someone who wants a vote can register easily (right now). Vote remains aye, but this alone may not be sufficient re: enfranchisement. It is a necessary, if insufficient, qualifier I agree with.

2

"Aye" (but I think anyone can sign up so it's mostly about making someone jump through an automated hoop).

2

Aye.

Not sure if that is a feature of Lemmy but it seems pretty simple to script an automod to do mod things to people who post here without being on the instance.

1

Aye.

I feel there should be a minimum level of investment, I think the bar should be higher than just being a part of the instance, but this is a good start.

1

Doesn’t preventing other instances from voting go against the point of being federated?

1

I think discussion should be open to anyone, but voting should only be by those who will be bound by the changed rules.

People with accounts on other instances have their own sets of rules to be concerned with and are not obligated to follow the rules decided on and implemented by this instance.

1
sh.itjust.works

Nay

We have open registration anyway, so there wouldn't be much friction if an outsider wanted to create an account to vote. We're large enough that we can rely on our numbers, we just need to make sure everyone knows about the Agora.

1

After creating an account and agreeing to follow the rules they aren't an outsider anymore.

2

Aye

Edit: Wow how fascinating, someone already went through my profile and downvoted all my comments.

1

Aye/Nay:

I think that non-sh.itjust.works users should have a say in what goes on here due to the fact that the whole fediverse is an interconnected web of users and servers (the whole decentralized thing).

That being said, I can totally see a scenario where other instances vote to change the rules of this instance because they don't agree with certain content and/or a rule that we have.

Though, to be frank, as long as the open signup remains, people could just make an account (or several) on here to get around the voting restrictions.

1
lemmy.dbzer0.com

Nay - I currently don't even have an account here, so... take that as you find authentic for your instance.

0
tcelyreply
sh.itjust.works

Why would it matter to you if the people who do have an account here voted to add a new rule then?

Your own instance has the set of rules you need to follow. Do you want to let us decide what those will be?

1
count0reply
lemmy.dbzer0.com

🤔 how does it work when/if I would want to participate in a community on your instance?

Post to it, comment on things...

Philosophically, I'm thinking about 'owning' a forum vs 'participating' - how to not have federation become fragmentation.

For me, it is perfectly OK to have different rules for local and federated accounts in a community, but maybe some communities will want to organize this in a consensus that goes beyond the 'owning' instance.

(Maybe I'm also - still - misunderstanding how multiple instances and federation works. This is also an invitation to think about these things / make them clearer (to me, and in general)).

0
tcelyreply
sh.itjust.works

The community is at a different level than instances or federation. For example, the rules a community agrees on aren't typically related to your instance or handled by the instance moderation team / admin.

Every instance will have some kind of terms of use that you must follow to keep an account on that instance.

A local community specifically for the bureaucracy of the local instance is also a special case.

In general, posting / replying in communities should be encouraged no matter which instance the community or your account was created on.

However, if you are breaking either your instance's rules or causing problems for users on another instance you can expect to be reported and likely have some moderation actions taken against your account. Basically, just having an external account isn't a license to behave badly.

3

You guys just broadcast your exclusionary little mockracy across the entire fediverse. I know I'm nought but a filthy subclass rando, but I'd suggest you learn a little more about how the technology works before you start making sweeping draconian policy. Because this is, like, embarrassing.

0